Joe Theismann says Tim Tebow is in ‘no man’s land’

Waterloo Region Record

Joe Theismann, who began his pro quarterbacking career in the Canadian Football League, doesn’t see it as a viable option for Tim Tebow. While he’s pulling for him, Theismann said Tebow’s passing deficiencies put him in “no man’s land” when it comes to playing quarterback on either side of the border.

“If I was a Canadian football team, I wouldn’t take him,” Thiesmann said Thursday in a phone interview.

According to Theismann, the CFL — with a wider field, three downs to make a first down and the pass-oriented offenses in Canada — wouldn’t be a good fit for Tebow.

“You get a lot of one-on-ones. You have a lot of space to throw into, but you still have to get the ball from point A to point B.” Theismann said.

After his Notre Dame career, Theismann played with the CFL’s Toronto Argonauts (1971-73) before joining the Washington Redskins and leading them to a Super Bowl title.

This week, after benching Mark Sanchez, the New York Jets bypassed Tebow and named third-stringer Greg McElroy to start against the San Diego Chargers on Sunday. Some are theorizing Tebow, who is expected to be released by the Jets after the season, might end up in the CFL.

“I still ask one simple question that somebody at the Jets has to answer: Why did you bring him in?” Theismann said. “You’re telling me you signed Tim Tebow to be a personal protector on the punt team, because that’s his most effective position.

“Evidently, you see something in practice that doesn’t allow you to make him the No. 2 quarterback behind Mark Sanchez.”

Speculation is rampant about where Tebow might end up next season. Whatever uniform, the issue will be Tebow’s passing, Theismann said.

“He has a mechanical flaw, and it’s the elongated nature of his delivery and the way the ball is positioned when it’s loaded (ready for delivery). He’s never been a very accurate thrower of the football. It’s the single-most important factor when you play the position,” Theismann said.

Theismann is puzzled the problem wasn’t addressed during Tebow’s college days at Florida.

“When Tebow was a junior, (why) didn’t he or (former Florida coach) Urban (Meyer) get him with somebody who understands how to throw a football and teach him some of the fundamentals? All of a sudden after his senior year, he’s going to work with someone,” Theismann said.

He acknowledged quarterbacks can function with deliveries that aren’t by the book.

“The (Tebow) delivery has never really concerned me as much as the inaccuracy,” he said. “With these rules today in football, if you can’t be a 60 per cent passer, then you have problems.”

Tebow is a 47.9 per cent NFL career passer.

Theismann said it’s difficult to work on mechanics once a quarterback arrives in the NFL.

“In the last year, how much time do you think he had had the opportunity to be able to work on his footwork, work on different throws that he has to make? I can’t imagine much. He basically lost a year,” Theismann said. “I would love to see him (become) more accurate. I just can’t see it happening.”

Theismann doesn’t see Tebow switching positions and thriving.

“He’s too big to be a wideout. He’s never played tight end. As a running back, he’s much more effective when he gets to pick and choose where holes are. And how fast is he accelerating?” Theismann said.

Where does leave Tebow?

“He’s in no man’s land is where he is,” he said.

“But one of the great things about the National Football League is there’s always somebody who’s willing to say, ‘I can fix this.’ In Tim’s case, you get a great individual, great guy, willing to do anything he can to help a football team win. But the skill set he has at the position he is asked to play is not of a professional level.”

Thiesmann, 63, is now a broadcaster, restaurant owner and spokesperson for a prostate supplement. He lives in Northern Virginia, and says he’s having a “heck of a year” when it comes to his former teams.

“My old Canadian team wins the Grey Cup in Toronto on the 100th anniversary, my college team is playing for the national championship, and the Redskins are positioning themselves to make a run to get into the tournament. I could have the trifecta of year,” he says.